Filipino emigrants are those individuals who leave the country to settle permanently abroad. They are required to register with the CFO and attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) which prepares them for settlement overseas. Country-specific PDOS are conducted for Filipino emigrants to address their adjustment concerns in their destination countries. Various topics discussed include: travel regulations, immigration procedures, cultural differences, settlement concerns, employment and social security concerns, and the rights and obligations of Filipino migrants. Children of emigrants, aged 13 to 19, are required to attend the Peer Counseling Program to prepare the youth migrants meet their sociopsychological needs attendant to their settlement overseas. During the sessions, they can express and discuss their particular concerns such as schooling, peer pressure, bullying, discrimination, language and culture barriers.

For the last five years, the CFO registered an average of 220 emigrants per day.Filipinos going abroad as spouses and partners of foreign nationals are required to attend the CFO’s guidance and counseling program (GCP). The GCP is meant to provide adequate information regarding inter-marriage and migration, cultural and social realities abroad, as well as available support networks for migrants especially for women in distress, among others. Effective May 2014, attendance in the country-specific GCP sessions is confirmed via an On-Line Appointment System. For the last five years, an average of 60 fiancé(e)s, spouses or partners of foreign nationals attend the GCP per day.